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How to Edit Photos for Your LinkedIn Profile

6 min read
Quick Answer

To edit a photo for your LinkedIn profile, upload a headshot to EditThisPic and describe the improvement: 'replace the background with a clean gray backdrop,' 'brighten the lighting on my face,' or 'make this look like a professional headshot.' The AI handles it in seconds. LinkedIn profiles with professional photos get 14x more views. Free, no signup required.

Your LinkedIn Photo Is Your First Impression

LinkedIn profiles with a photo get 21x more views and 36x more messages than those without one. But not just any photo — a professional-looking headshot signals competence and approachability. You don't need to book a photographer. A good selfie or casual photo can be transformed into a polished headshot with the right edits: clean background, good lighting, and sharp focus.

LinkedIn Photo Requirements

LinkedIn profile photos must be between 400x400 and 7680x4320 pixels. The display is circular, so your face should be centered with space around it. The recommended aspect ratio is 1:1 (square). File size limit is 8MB. LinkedIn supports JPG, GIF, and PNG. Your face should take up about 60% of the frame for optimal display in the circular crop.

Common LinkedIn Photo Problems

  • Casual background — kitchen, bedroom, or busy office visible behind you
  • Poor lighting — overhead shadows, yellow indoor light, or backlit silhouettes
  • Group photo crop — zoomed in from a group shot with low resolution or awkward framing
  • Outdated photo — looks nothing like your current appearance
  • Other people visible — conference photos, wedding crops, or vacation shots
  • Low resolution or slight blur from phone cameras in dim environments

What Makes a LinkedIn Photo Look Professional

Three things separate a professional headshot from a casual photo: a clean, uncluttered background (solid color or soft bokeh), even lighting on the face with no harsh shadows, and sharp focus on the eyes. You don't need a suit — what you'd wear to work is fine. The background and lighting do the heavy lifting. A selfie in good natural light with an AI background swap looks more professional than a studio shot with bad posing.

Photo Style by Industry

Corporate and finance roles benefit from neutral gray or dark blue backgrounds with traditional framing. Creative industries — design, marketing, media — can use more color and less formal backdrops. Tech and startups look natural with soft-focus office or outdoor backgrounds. Healthcare professionals do well with clean white or light gray backdrops. Match the energy of your industry, but always prioritize clarity and good lighting over style.

Tips for the Best LinkedIn Headshot Edit

Start with the best raw photo you have — good natural light, facing forward, genuine expression. Fix the background first: 'replace background with soft gray studio backdrop' gets clean results. Then fix lighting: 'brighten the face and even out the shadows.' Finally, sharpen if needed: 'sharpen the focus on my face.' Don't over-retouch — LinkedIn is professional, but people want to see the real you.

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Choose Your Best Headshot

Pick a recent photo where you're facing the camera with a natural expression. Shoulders-up framing works best. Good natural light is ideal but not required — AI can fix lighting.

2

Upload to EditThisPic

Drop your photo into EditThisPic. Works with any format — JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC. No app download needed.

3

Fix the Background

Type 'replace the background with a soft gray studio backdrop' or 'change the background to a blurred modern office.' For a traditional look, try 'professional headshot background, solid dark blue.' The AI swaps it cleanly.

4

Adjust Lighting and Sharpness

If the lighting is uneven, type 'brighten my face and balance the lighting.' For soft or slightly blurry photos, add 'sharpen the focus.' Review the before/after slider and download when it looks right.

Try These Tools

LinkedIn Headshots AI Headshot Generator Professional Headshot from Selfie Headshot Background Removal

Frequently Asked Questions

LinkedIn recommends a square photo between 400x400 and 7680x4320 pixels. The display crop is circular, so center your face and leave some space around it. EditThisPic preserves your original resolution — just make sure you start with at least 400x400.
Yes. Upload your selfie and describe the changes: 'replace the background with a clean gray studio backdrop, brighten the lighting, and sharpen the focus.' A well-lit selfie with a professional background swap looks as good as many studio headshots.
Neutral grays, soft whites, and dark blues are the most popular for professional headshots. Soft-focus outdoor or office backgrounds also work. Avoid busy patterns or bright colors that compete with your face for attention.
Keep it minimal. Fixing a temporary blemish or reducing under-eye shadows from a bad night's sleep is fine. Smoothing skin texture, whitening teeth, or reshaping features crosses into misleading territory — especially for a platform where people will meet you on video calls.
Upload the photo and type 'remove all other people' or tap specific people to place markers. The AI removes them and fills in the background. If you then want a cleaner backdrop, follow up with 'replace the background with a professional studio backdrop.'
EditThisPic offers free edits with no signup required. Upload your headshot, describe the changes, and download the result. One free edit per week, with plans available for more.

Upgrade Your LinkedIn Headshot in Seconds

Upload your photo, describe the professional look you want, and download. Free, instant, no signup.

Edit My LinkedIn Photo